Every month on our photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. The photo I choose is not necessarily the best one of the month. I’ve come to realize it’s not really logical to pit images from totally different genres against each other. That’s why there are categories in photo contests. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

A snowy morning by Bambi

This month’s choice is‚A snowy morning by Bambi

I chose this image for several reasons:

Mood – This image has a wonderful mood and this mood is created by the falling snow, the snow covered branches in the foreground against the darker toned trees in the midground and of course the figure in the background. A shallower depth of field with the sharpest elements in the foreground might not have been the obvious choice for many photographers, but it is rocking this image big-time! The shutter speed catching the suspended snow is also helping the mood. The Black and white conversion is very well done, and it suits and enhances the other elements contributing to the overall mood.

Composition – Very well done here! There are ‘layers’ of interesting things for our eyes to look at starting from the foreground and continuing to the background where the focal point (the person) is. Our eye is well guided through this wintery ‘tunnel’.

Exposure/shutter speed – Both are well handled here. The shutter speed ‘freezes‚ ‘ the falling snow here. A good exposure keeps the whites in check and offers up wonderful tonality with a good range of tones. If I have 1 teeny niggle I might burn in the lightest branches at top right by maybe 5%.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS post is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again Bambi for capturing this gorgeous scene!

Every month on our photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. The photo I choose is not necessarily the best one of the month. I’ve come to realize it’s not really logical to pit images from totally different genres against each other. That’s why there are categories in photo contests. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

Golden Glitter by Donna

This month’s choice is‚Golden Glitter by Donna

I chose this image for several reasons:

Composition – I just love the composition here, it’s so pleasing to the eye. The rule of thirds is working well for me here with approximately 1/3 foreground, 1/3 midground and 1/3 background when you look horizontally. When you look vertically it’s a classic 1/3rd left and 2/3rds to the right. Some people scoff at the rule of thirds….scoff away…if the horse were centered here, the image would not be as visually interesting. The horse was likely deliberately captured in an excellent spot which is the brightest spot in the image. Our eye goes right to the horse. The water line in the midground is another interesting element.

Colour palette/tonal quality – These are WOW colours for me even though they are quite contrasty in parts of the image. The colour palette is golden warm, well balanced, and the tones are harmonious.

Lighting/exposure – This is tricky lighting which means tricky exposure and it is very well handled. The backlighting/sidelighting on the horse has just enough detail on its side to make it interesting and provide a bit of reflection in the water. The head is partially silhouetted which adds drama and grabs our eye as previously mentioned.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again Donna for capturing this gorgeous scene!

Every month on our photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. The photo I choose is not necessarily the best one of the month. I’ve come to realize it’s not really logical to pit images from totally different genres against each other. That’s why there are categories in photo contests. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

Golden Glitter by Donna

This month’s choice is Golden Glitter by Donna

I chose this image for several reasons:

Composition – I just love the composition here, it’s so pleasing to the eye. The rule of thirds is working well for me here with approximately 1/3 foreground, 1/3 midground and 1/3 background when you look horizontally. When you look vertically it’s a classic 1/3rd left and 2/3rds to the right. Some people scoff at the rule of thirds….scoff away…if the horse were centered here, the image would not be as visually interesting. The horse was likely deliberately captured in an excellent spot which is the brightest spot in the image. Our eye goes right to the horse. The water line in the midground is another interesting element.

Colour palette/tonal quality – These are WOW colours for me even though they are quite contrasty in parts of the image. The colour palette is golden warm, well balanced, and the tones are harmonious.

Lighting/exposure – This is tricky lighting which means tricky exposure and it is very well handled. The backlighting/sidelighting on the horse has just enough detail on its side to make it interesting and provide a bit of reflection in the water. The head is partially silhouetted which adds drama and grabs our eye as previously mentioned.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again Donna for capturing this gorgeous scene!

Every month on our¯¿½photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. The photo I choose is not necessarily the best one of the month. I¯¿½ve come to realize it¯¿½s not really logical to pit images from totally different genres against each other. That¯¿½s why there are categories in photo contests. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

Swirls by Edg

I chose this image for several reasons:

I love the sharpness here and overall depth of field choice here. Lovely sharp foreground flower (the focal point) at left.

The tonal quality of the flowers is very unique and well done. It’s a bit darker than I’m used to seeing, but it adds to the unique tonal quality and mood of the photograph. Gorgeous palette of pinks and reds. Great highlights in the flower at left and nice subtle highlights on the right flower as well. I like that the left flower is slightly brighter than the right.

My eye is skillfully guided around the image and rests on the focal point. This is due to some fine focal point selection and lens selection during exposure and some lovely post processing. The post processing (especially the darkening of the background) refines the overall composition here and it totally works.

If I have one small niggle, I’d clone out/burn the brightish white edge of the petal on the main left flower at lower left, but that’s it.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again edG for creating this gorgeous image!

I¯¿½d also like to include these 3 images as honourable mentions as they also came close to being picked.

Yummmmm - I Love Pollen by Matt K.

Wading Pool by Jas Photo

Descending by Barefoot

Every month on our¯¿½ photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. The photo I choose is not necessarily the best one of the month. I¯¿½ve come to realize it¯¿½s not really logical to pit images from totally different genres against each other. That¯¿½s why there are categories in photo contests. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

A Black & White Foray by Mad Aussie

I chose this image for several reasons:

First off, it’s a WOW image. A lot of the ‘wow’ comes from the incredible sky and the way it’s processed. It’s darkish, somewhat ominous and sets an incredible mood. Had the sky been boring, this shot would not be the same, so good on Mad Aussie for noticing the amazing sky.

The tones in this image are very nicely rendered and the higher contrast used here works extremely well to my eye. It’s very dramatic and makes me think of the Greek Myth involving Atlas. If I have one teeny niggle I’d have toned down the brighter rock just under the main boulder.

Leading lines – The rocks at lower left lead upward toward the big rock at center right which is the focal point of this image. This is NO accident and is the result of careful in-camera composition. In terms of overall composition – just friggen fab. Interesting foreground (jagged rocks) midground (boulder which is the focal point) and background (awesome sky) elements. The split between rocks and sky is also interesting and well thought out with 2/3rds sky and about 1/3rd rocks. Although we often have the discussion about the rule of thirds being a mere guideline…that rule is rocking this image

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again Mad Aussie for creating this striking image!

I¯¿½d also like to include these 2 images as honourable mentions as they also came close to being picked.

Mountain Stream by Bambi

Driftwood and clouds by Michaelaw

Every month on our¯¿½ photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. The photo I choose is not necessarily the best one of the month. I¯¿½ve come to realize it¯¿½s not really logical to pit images from totally different genres against each other. That¯¿½s why there are categories in photo contests. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

I chose this image for several reasons:

The eye is tack tack sharp and that’s hard to do on a subject this small, because focusing (and dof) is a challenging task at this size and distance to subject. Sharpness is lovely in many places; leg hairs, thorax, abdomen. Blurred background shows no distractions.

The subject has a definite impact on the viewer. It’s likely very creepy for many viewers, probably because of sharpness. My eye is focused on one thing, that fly.

Good composition all around which can be challenging at this size as well.

Nice highlight control on whatever the fly is resting on and the overall exposure is well handled with supplementary lighting.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month. Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again OWLP for creating this striking image!

I¯¿½d also like to include these 2 images as honourable mentions as they also came so so close to being picked.

Colorless Beauty by Kat

Dinner time by Richard

Power At Sunrise by Mad Aussie

Every month on our photography forum members nominate images that they like. Then at the end of the month I choose an excellent image and talk about why it rocks. The photo I choose is not necessarily the best one of the month. I’ve come to realize it’s not really logical to pit images from totally different genres against each other. That’s why there are categories in photo contests. I just choose a photo that has extremely strong elements that we can learn from.

This month’s choice The Conversation is by casil403.

I chose this image for several reasons.
First and foremost, I was drawn in by the unusual angle and point of view of this shot. This angle works very well for me! I love how just above the left statue’s head the office windows are nicely lit. This gives me the feeling of a well-told story, better than the similar story told by the straight on shot seen many, many times. The story is office politics/or work talk etc.

I very much like the lines of the building’s roof and the lines created by the windows. I’m loving this interesting composition. The way that ‘roof-line’ cuts out of the scene to create an isosceles-like triangle at top left (hey I dug geometry) is fan-friggen-tastic. It adds interest to this scene and makes it dynamic.

The sky is beautifully controlled here. It adds flavour to the shot without overwhelming it in any way.

The black and white is very well controlled here and works for me with this subject matter. If I had one teeny nit, I might bring up the highlights in the statues’ faces and hand.

Thousands of people pass these statues every day and scores of tourists are likely snapping away daily… and none of them are likely to lie down on the ground or get on their knees to get this superb angle.

For all these reasons, this is my choice for image of the month.

Since we all have opinions, some members may disagree with my choice. That’s cool but THIS thread is not the place for debate over my pick, NOR is it the place to further critique the image. The purpose here is to suggest strong elements in the photo that we may learn from.

Congrats again casil403 for creating this beautiful image!